I'm new to The Myeloma Beacon. I have been reading the forums and found a wealth of information that is helping me understand about myeloma. My emotions have been all over the chart trying to figure out what my blood test meant. I left a message for the doctor who ordered the test, and my primary care, to find out what the test result meant. In the meantime, I found the website and have calmed down some.
I have been extremely fatigued for about 2 years. I have a lumpy bumpy thyroid, a year ago, high antibodies showed up, then back to normal a year later, along with 2 biopsies 6 months apart, negative for cancer. I am negative for diabetes. I have had crushing pain in shoulders, arms, hands, lower legs. I have neuropathy and spine problems along with low vitamin B and D. In January 2017, I received try #2 spinal epidural for severe back pain which alleviated most of the pain. About a year ago, I began to experience head tremors (side to side), and memory problems. Primary care physician began me on gabapentin (1200 mg per day), referred me to a neurologist, it has taken about 1 year to finally be able to be seen. Also, a year ago, I began to have teary eyes in which I saw an eye doctor, who gave me prescription eye drops with steroids which didn't work.
I saw a movement neurologist at Stanford on September 5, 2017, who reviewed my health history and examined me and said he didn't believe I had multiple sclerosis, AL, etc.. He believed that autoimmune disease was part of the cause, in particular, hypothyroidism. He ordered blood tests for thyroid and others that I wasn't familiar with, one being "Immunofixation ELP".
On September 7, 2017, I had my blood work done at my normal healthcare facility and can see test results as they are released. On September 18 the Immunofixation ELP blood test came back abnormal.The pathologist reported it 'Paraprotein identified, IgG Kappa. I have no idea to date, what the range was, whether it was high or low, or what and when the next step of testing should be done, etc.
I am thankful to the neurologist who cared enough to go the extra step.
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Cheryl59 - Name: Cheryl
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 9/13/2017
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Immunofixation ELP - paraprotein identified IgG kappa
Hi Cheryl,
Welcome to the forum, but sorry to hear about your situation.
GIven that your neurologist uncovered paraprotein (monoclonal protein), it is likely that the next step would be for him to refer you to a hematologist-oncologist for additional lab tests, since it is likely that you have a monoclonal gammopathy of some sort. It pays to seek out hematologists that specialize in myeloma (and other monoclonal gammopathies), and you can find these specialists at Stanford and UCSF. The additional lab tests would likely be:
Serum Immunofixation
Serum Electrophoresis (repeat your previous test)
Serum Free Light Chain Assay
Quantitative Immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM)
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
CBC
24 hour Urine Protein Electrophoresis (the hematologist may or may not recommend this test).
In the future, you should ask for copies of your lab results so that you have them handy when you visit other doctors and/or get on this forum.
Good luck and let us know if you need any help.
Welcome to the forum, but sorry to hear about your situation.
GIven that your neurologist uncovered paraprotein (monoclonal protein), it is likely that the next step would be for him to refer you to a hematologist-oncologist for additional lab tests, since it is likely that you have a monoclonal gammopathy of some sort. It pays to seek out hematologists that specialize in myeloma (and other monoclonal gammopathies), and you can find these specialists at Stanford and UCSF. The additional lab tests would likely be:
Serum Immunofixation
Serum Electrophoresis (repeat your previous test)
Serum Free Light Chain Assay
Quantitative Immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM)
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
CBC
24 hour Urine Protein Electrophoresis (the hematologist may or may not recommend this test).
In the future, you should ask for copies of your lab results so that you have them handy when you visit other doctors and/or get on this forum.
Good luck and let us know if you need any help.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Immunofixation ELP - paraprotein identified IgG kappa
Multibilly,
Thank you very much for sharing what I will probably be looking at. I didn't know the neurologist ran the Immunofixation ELP, my lab orders show: Protein Immunofixation Electrophoresis, Serum. But, my results show: Immunofixation ELP which was resulted in abnormal.
As I mentioned in my first post, I did send a message to my primary care doctor to request the range results of my test (since my bloodwork was done at my own health care facility and not Stanford), she responded last night at midnight, declining to give me that info, stating she wasn't familiar with the test or interpretation and referred me back to the doctor who ordered the test. I am in waiting mode for the neurologist to contact me with the results and next steps.
Thank you again.
Thank you very much for sharing what I will probably be looking at. I didn't know the neurologist ran the Immunofixation ELP, my lab orders show: Protein Immunofixation Electrophoresis, Serum. But, my results show: Immunofixation ELP which was resulted in abnormal.
As I mentioned in my first post, I did send a message to my primary care doctor to request the range results of my test (since my bloodwork was done at my own health care facility and not Stanford), she responded last night at midnight, declining to give me that info, stating she wasn't familiar with the test or interpretation and referred me back to the doctor who ordered the test. I am in waiting mode for the neurologist to contact me with the results and next steps.
Thank you again.
-
Cheryl59 - Name: Cheryl
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 9/13/2017
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Immunofixation ELP - paraprotein identified IgG kappa
An Immunofixation ELP is the combination of a serum electrophoresis (ELP) test and a serum immunofixation test. An immunofixation test will tell you if any monoclonal protein is present in your blood and what kind it is (in your case, IgG kappa). But it won't tell you specifically how much of that monoclonal protein you have in your blood. On the other hand, the electrophoresis test will tell you how much of that monoclonal protein you have in your blood. The normal range for monoclonal protein (aka your "M-spike") on the electrophoresis test is "none", as one should not normally have any monoclonal protein in their blood.
Have you ever been imaged (xray, MRI or PET/CT) for all the various pains in your back, neck, etc?
Have you ever been imaged (xray, MRI or PET/CT) for all the various pains in your back, neck, etc?
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Immunofixation ELP - paraprotein identified IgG kappa
Multibilly,
Thank you again for this information.
In regards to imaging, yes, I am have had x-rays, MRI's, and CT's done. I was just reviewing my online health manager's imaging reports to see when/what I had these for, and discovered other things that I wasn't aware of. The last imaging was done in 2016 of my spine and cervical to diagnose severe chronic pain (which also captured kidney stones; 1 being 4 millimeters), as well as my head and neck for thyroid nodules (which also captured tiny left lung nodules that were stated not of importance in the imaging report). I've had other imaging done of my abdomen and pelvic due to diverticulitis that I was hospitalized for 2 times, but I have had it 4 times over the last few years. I know I have had more than what the health manager is showing (its not including all imaging done at certain hospitals).
I used to be able to query the data and be able to copy and save, but the system doesn't have that option anymore. It says I can download data, but am limited to a certain amount. So I am going to select by grouping only Imaging to see what it will give me.
Thank you again for this information.
In regards to imaging, yes, I am have had x-rays, MRI's, and CT's done. I was just reviewing my online health manager's imaging reports to see when/what I had these for, and discovered other things that I wasn't aware of. The last imaging was done in 2016 of my spine and cervical to diagnose severe chronic pain (which also captured kidney stones; 1 being 4 millimeters), as well as my head and neck for thyroid nodules (which also captured tiny left lung nodules that were stated not of importance in the imaging report). I've had other imaging done of my abdomen and pelvic due to diverticulitis that I was hospitalized for 2 times, but I have had it 4 times over the last few years. I know I have had more than what the health manager is showing (its not including all imaging done at certain hospitals).
I used to be able to query the data and be able to copy and save, but the system doesn't have that option anymore. It says I can download data, but am limited to a certain amount. So I am going to select by grouping only Imaging to see what it will give me.
-
Cheryl59 - Name: Cheryl
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 9/13/2017
- Age at diagnosis: 58
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